Canada names squad for June tests

New Canadian supremo Mark Anscombe has named a 37-strong training squad to prepare for the three-match June international series. The group will be reduced to 28 after a week-long intensive camp that begins on May 28 at Shawnigan Lake School, with the historic first ever test match at Vancouver’s BC Place set to take place on June 11 against Japan.

Included are 14 members of the World Cup squad and another dozen who featured in the Americas Rugby Championship. The inexperienced group features eight uncapped players, all graduates of the national u20 program and half from the team that played against the Junior All-Americans in February.

A significant number of overseas professionals miss out due to injury or personal commitments, including captain Tyler Ardron, Brett Beukeboom, Jeff Hassler, Phil Mackenzie, Jason Marshall, Benoît Pifféro, Jebb Sinclair, Andrew Tiedemann, DTH van der Merwe, and Doug Wooldridge. In addition, all players currently training with the national 7s side are unavailable in preparation for the final Olympic qualifier tournament in Monaco on June 18-19. The inclusion of both Ciaran Hearn and Taylor Paris is also subject to their participation in that tournament.

After playing Japan, Canada will move on to Calgary Rugby Park to face Russia on June 18, with their final match against Italy at BMO Field in Toronto on June 26.

FORWARDS
Hubert Buydens (San Diego, US), Tom Dolezel (London St. George’s / Ontario Blues), Jake Ilnicki (San Diego, US), Ryan Kotlewski (Calgary Saints / Prairie Wolf Pack), Djustice Sears-Duru (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Matt Tierney (Pau, FR), Ray Barkwill (Sacramento, US), Eric Howard (Brantford Harlequins / Ontario Blues), AJ Quattrin (Aurora Barbarians / Ontario Blues), Paul Ciulini (Aurora Barbarians / Ontario Blues), Jamie Cudmore (Clermont Auvergne, FR), Evan Olmstead (London Scottish, UK), Cameron Pierce (Pau, FR), Kyle Baillie (Ohio, US), Aaron Carpenter (Cornish Pirates, UK), Alistair Clark (Bay Street / Ontario Blues), Kyle Gilmour (St. Albert / Prairie Wolf Pack), Matt Heaton (Otley, UK), Clay Panga (Westshore / Prairie Wolf Pack), Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach / Ontario Blues)

BACKS
Andrew Ferguson (Oakville Crusaders / Ontario Blues), Jamie Mackenzie (UBCOB Ravens / Ontario Blues), Gordon McRorie (Calgary Hornets / Prairie Wolf Pack), Guiseppe du Toit (UVic Vikes / BC Bears), Dylan Horgan (UCC, IR), Patrick Parfrey (Swilers / Atlantic Rock), Nick Blevins (San Francisco, US), Ciaran Hearn (London Irish, UK), Ben LeSage (UBC Thunderbirds / Prairie Wolf Pack), Mozac Samson (Calgary Saints / Prairie Wolf Pack), Jordan Wilson-Ross (James Bay / Ontario Blues), Trent Cooper (Oshawa Vikings / Ontario Blues), Dan Moor (Balmy Beach / Ontario Blues), Taylor Paris (Agen, FR), Theo Sauder (UBC Thunderbirds / BC Bears), Matt Evans (Cornish Pirates, UK), Brock Staller (UBC Thunderbirds / BC Bears)